Intravenous catheter introduction assembly

ABSTRACT

An intravenous needle and catheter combination wherein a plastic catheter is mounted on a hub which is connected to an adapter by means of a short flexible rubber or plastic tube adapted to be bent laterally and to be resealably punctured by a needle (or trocar) which extends initially through the hub and catheter with its point projecting from the distal end of the latter. After venipuncture the needle is withdrawn, leaving the catheter in the vein; the needle hole through the side of the tube tends to close, but the material may have taken some permanent set during sterilization so that mechanical means is provided to ensure closure of the hole, such mechanical means becoming effective either automatically upon removal of the needle or resulting from adjustment of certain parts.

ilnite tates aterit [191 Monestere, Jr. et a1.

[ Dec. 3, 1974 INTRAVENOUS CATHETER INTRODUCTION ASSEMBLY [75] Inventors: Martin Monestere, Jr., Lebanon;

Vincent L. Vaillancourt, Livingston,

[21] Appl. No.: 338,777

[52] U.S. C1. 128/2144, IZS/DIG. l6 [5]] Int. Cl A61m 05/00 [58] Field of Search 128/214.4, 214 R, 214 Z,

128/215, 216, 221, 348, DIG. 16

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,220,411 11/1965 Czorny l28/214.4 3,599,637 8/1971 Schwartz. 128/2l4.4 -3,734,095 5/1973 Santomieri t 128/2144 3,739,778 6/1973 Monestere et a1. 128/2144 1 I141!!! II II I) Primary Examiner-Dalton L. Truluck Attorney, Agent, or Firm-C. E. Martine, Jr.

[ 5 7] ABSTRACT An intravenous needle and catheter combination wherein a plastic catheter is mounted on a hub which is connected to an adapter by means of a short flexible rubber or plastic tube adapted to be bent laterally and to be resealably punctured by a needle (or trocar) which extends initially through the hub and catheter with its point projecting from the distal end of the latter. After venipuncture the needle is withdrawn, leaving the catheter in the vein; the needle hole through the side of the tube tends to close, but the material may have .taken some permanent set during sterilization so that mechanical means is provided to ensure closure of the hole, such mechanical means becoming effective either automatically upon removal of the needle or resulting from adjustment of certain parts.

5 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures The devices disclosed herein are considered to be advantageous developments beyond those disclosed in the Schwartz US. Pat. No. 3,599,637, issued Aug. 17, 1971, in copending application of Martin Monestere, Jr. and Frederick Prunier, Ser. No. 171,156, filed Aug. 12, 1971, now US. Pat. No. 3,739,778, and in the several earlier patents cited in said application.

While gum rubber tubing can be made to be quite reliably self-sealing after puncture by a (non-coring) needle in the absence of other factors, it has been found that the rubber tubes of the Schwartz Patent and copending application, supra, may take a certain amount of permanent set as a result of sterilization. Thus, the rubber tube in a needle and catheter combination of that type, after sterilization with the needle passing through the tube wall, may not be relied on to seal completely the needle hole when the needle is removed. According to the present invention, means is provided for closing the needle point of entry mechanically in order to ensure complete closure without relying solely on automatic resealing, thus making it possible to use flexible plastic materials such as polyvinyl chloride, if desired, instead of rubber.

As in the application Ser. No. 171,156, the system comprises two assemblies which are normally packaged in combined position, ready for use, and sterile. One assembly includes a plastic catheter, tapered at its distal end, a plastic catheter hub, a short flexible gum rubber or plastic tube securely fixed distally in the catheter hub, a second hub (constituting an adapter) associated with the proximal end of the tube and perforation sealing means which may be a separate element or may be constituted by a special formation of the elements just listed.

The second main assembly includes a needle, a com-- bined needle hub and guide shield and a closing plug.

As initially combined, the flexible tube is bent laterally, the needle point is passed through the wall of the tube and advanced through the catheter to project beyond the beveled end thereof. The guide shield has one side cut away (normally corresponding to the bevel side of the needle point) to accommodate the laterally bent tube, the guide shield being otherwise of a length such that its distal end rests against the catheter hub when the needle is in proper position for venipuncture.

FIG. 4 represents a longitudinal sectional view of the assembly shown in FIG. 3 together with a needle, in position for venipuncture, the needle hub being omitted;

FIGS. 5 and 6, FIGS. 7 and 8, FIGS. 9 and 10, and FIGS. 11 and 12 represent views, comparable to FIGS. 3 and 4, showing second, third, fourth and fifth alternate forms of the catheter assembly, at rest and with the needle added, respectively. 1

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the catheter assembly includes a plastic catheter 10, a catheter hub 11, a short gum rubber or flexible plastic tube 12 and an adapterhub 13. The hub 11 is formed with a proximally facing enlarged bore portion 14 within which the beaded end 15 of the catheter 10 is fitted and the shaft of the catheter is engaged by the flowed epoxy 16 which fills a distally facing second enlarged bore portion 17, the hub and catheter being cemented together as the epoxy is cured to ensure against separation of the catheter from the hub.

The hub 11 is provided also with a proximally facing annular slot 18, concentric with the bore portion 14, and the distal end 19 of the flexible tube 12 is held in said slot, as by a crimp 20, with or without the use of cement.

The adapter-hub 13 has a cylindrical distal end portion 21 of a size to fit within the proximal end of the tube 12 which is cemented to said end portion. The tube 12 is of sufficient length to hold the hubs 11 and 13 spaced apart by a distance approximately equal to the length of hub 11 and the free middle portion of the tube is surrounded by a tightly fitting wide flat rubber band 22.

In preparing the instrument for use, the adapter-hub 13 is turned out of axial alinement with the hub 1 1, thus bending the tube 12. A needle 23, mounted on a needle hub 24, is passed through the side of the tube 12, as shown in FIG. 2, at a point beneath the rubber band 22 (which can easily be pushed aside when the tube is bent), the needle being passed also through the bore portion 14 and through the bore of the catheter 10 with its beveled tip 24 projecting a short distance beyond the tapered distal tip of the catheter. The hub 24 may desirably be provided with a guide shield 26 in the form of a hollow cylinder partially cut away on one side to provide an axially extending slot 27 (FIG. 2A) wide enough to receive the tube 12 when the latter is bent laterally and pierced by the needle, as shown in FIG. 2. The slot may extend through about to of the circumference of the shield, and the length of the shield is so related to the length of the needle 23 and catheter 10 that the needle tip 25 projects slightly beyond the catheter tip when the distal edge 28 of the shield is against or adjacent the end of the hub 11. The slot 27 may be correlated with the bevel of the needle tip 25 so that the orientation of the latter in a vein can be ascertained. The needle hub 24 may be closed, initially, by a removable plug 29, to prevent or permit flashback, or the needle could be replaced by a trocar of similar dimensions, for introduction of the cannula into a vein. The needle point is normally covered by a needle guard 30 engaged frictionally on the catheter hub.

To use the instrument shown in FIG. 2 the user should prepare the site, remove the needle guard 30, and proceed with venipuncture in the usual manner, holding the needle hub 24 and shield 26. The plug 29 being in venting position, blood will appear in the needle hub when a vein has been reached, and the blood flow can be arrested by advancing the plug to sealing position. Holding the needle hub in one hand and the catheter hub in the other, the catheter 10 may be further inserted by advancing the hub 11 along the needle until the tip of the catheter has reached the desired position in the vein, at which point the catheter is held stationary and the needle withdrawn and discarded. Upon removal of the needle, the tube 12 will straighten out and the hole 31 made by the needle will close to some extent, if the tube material is rubber, while being closed securely in any event by the seating of the rubber band 22, as shown in FIG. 1.

The catheter shaft 10 may be left in the vein, with the adapter-hub 13 connected to any desired source of infusion liquid, or it may be used as an introducer for a smaller, longer, catheter (not shown) in which latter case the introducer may be left in the vein or may be removed to leave only the smaller catheter in the vein, according to the technique preferred by the user. Each alternate device described below is designed for use in the same manner.

The assembly of needle 23, hub 24 and shield 26 as used in each alternate form described below is the same as that described above, but only the needle is shown, for clarity of illustration.

In the first alternate form, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the catheter 32 and its hub 33 are the same as catheter 10 and hub 11, the distal portion 34 of the tube 35 being secured in the hub exactly as tube 12 is secured, in FIGS. 1 and 2. The proximal half of tube 35, is however, constituted by inner and outer wall portions 36, 37, forming between them a proximally open cylindrical recess 38. The adapter-hub 39 has a cylindrical distal portion 40 adapted to fit tightly within the recess 38, the portion 40 having an external rib 41 adjacent its distal end, projecting radially outward so as to engage and deform the outher tube portion 37.

To prepare the catheter assembly of FIG. 3 for use, the adapter-hub 39 is pulled away from the catheter hub, moving the portion 40 partly out of the recess 38, and the tube 35 is then bent sufficiently to permit the needle 23 to be inserted through the outer and inner wall portions 37, 36 and on through the catheter 32 to the operative position shown in FIG. 4. A needle guard, like that shown in FIG. 2, is normally provided but is omitted from FIGS. 4, 6, 8, l and 12.

Venipuncture is effected with the instrument of FIG. 4 in exactly the same manner as in the case of FIG. 2. When the needle 23 has been withdrawn and discarded the adapter-hub 39 is pushed toward the catheter hub 33, thus sliding the portion 40 deeper into the recess 38 to a position (e.g. FIG. 3) where it securely occludes the holes made by the needle in the wall portions 36, 37 even if said holes have not automatically closed.

In the second alternative form, shown in FIGS. and 6, the catheter 42 is the same as in FIGS. '1 to 4 but the hub 43 has a proximally extended cylindrical portion 44 with a beveled annular rib 45 projecting radially outward adjacent its proximal end. The adapter-hub 46 is formed with a mating beveled annular rib 47 being designed for a snap-fit engagement when pushed together. A piece of flexible tubing 48 has its distal end engaged in a socket 49 on the hub (as in the hubs of FIGS. 1 to 4) and the proximal end portion of the tubing is cemented to the outside of the adapter-hub for a short distance, as indicated at 50. The length of the tubing 48 is such that, at rest, the ribs 45 and 47 are separated and the adapter-hub can be turned out of alinement with the catheter and its hub to permit introduction of a needle 51 (like needle 23) through the wall of the tubing and on into the catheter, as shown in FIG. 6. Upon introduction of the needle and catheter into a vein, in the usual manner, the needle is withdrawn and the rib 47 is snapped into engagement with the rib 45, as shown in FIG. 5, the tubing 48 buckling outward as it is longitudinally compressed. The plastic material of which the hub and adapter-hub are made has sufficient elasticity to permit the snapping of rib 47 over rib 45, or the rib 47 may be partially cut away to leave only a plurality of separate beveled hooks. In the engaged position of FIG. 5 the hub and adapter-hub are in substantially liquid tight engagement so that the self-sealing of the hole 52 through which the needle was passed is not necessary. For the ribs 45 and 47 may be substituted other known snap fit features or the parts may be formed with interfering tapers, for tight frictional engagement.

In the third alternative form (FIGS. 7 and 8) the catheter hub 53 is the same as the hub in FIGS. 1 to 4 while the adapter-hub 54 has its distal half provided with a smooth cylindrical outer surface 55 interrupted only by a small annular ridge 56 near its distal end. The flexible tube 57 is engaged distally in a socket 53 of the hub 53 (as in FIGS. I to 6), the tube having a friction fit with the surface 55. When prepared for use, the adapter-hub 54 is withdrawn from the tube to leave the latter engaged only with a portion of said surface (including the ridge 56), the adapter-hub being turned out of alinement with the catheter hub and a needle being passed through the side wall of the tube and on through the catheter, as shown in FIG. 8. After Venipuncture has been effected and the needle withdrawn, the adapter-hub is advanced into the tube sufficiently to position the ridge 56 distally of the hole 57' through which the needle was passed, the engagement of the ridge with the inner wall of the tube being liquid tight (FIG. 7).

In the fourth alternative form (FIGS. 9 and 10) the distal end portion 58 of the adapter-hub and the proximal end 59 of the catheter hub are complementarily beveled at 58' and 59' (somewhat as in FIGS. 5 and 6) and are adapted to be held in engagement by the tension of the elastic tube 60. The tube, in this case, is adhesively secured on the end portion 58 only around a narrow zone 61, adjacent to the proximal end of the tube, the latter having sufficient elasticity, in its length from zone 61 to its securement on the catheter hub, to enable it to be stretched and bent, as in FIG. 10 for insertion of the needle, while retaining memory enough to pull the beveled ends 58' and 59 together again after the needle has been removed. When the adapterhub and catheter hub are in engagement, the hole 62 formed by the needle is occluded.

A further alternative is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 wherein the catheter hub 63 has a funnel-shaped proximal end 64. The distal end of the elastic tube 65 is tapered to fit snugly within the funnel and is adhesively secured to the tunnel wall only at one side 66. In this form, the needle can establish a point of entry to the catheter by pushing aside the distal end of the tube in the area 67 where it is not secured to the funnel wall, as shown in FIG. 12. After Venipuncture and removal of the needle, the tube end returns to its circular crosssectional form (FIG. 11) and rests tightly enough against the funnel wall to form an effective seal.

It will be understood that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and hence we do not intend to be limited to the details shown or described herein except as the same are included in the claims or may be required by disclosures of the prior art.

What we claim is:

1. An intravenous needle and catheter combination comprising a plastic catheter having a tapered distal end and a hub, a flexible tube of elastic material secured at its distal end to said hub, an adapter-hub engaged with the proximal end of said tube, a needle having a beveled point removably inserted through a wall of said tube at a point of entry intermediate said hub and adapter-hub and extending through the lumen of said catheter, and separate mechanical means on said tube for closing said point of entry after removal of the needle, wherein said mechanical means is a separate element movable between needle-passing position and entry-closing position.

2. An intravenous needle and catheter combination according to claim 1 wherein said mechanical means is a resilient band surrounding said flexible tube.

3. An improved intravenous needle and catheter combination comprising a plastic catheter having a tapered distal end and a hub, a flexible tube of elastic material secured at its distal end to said hub, an adapterhub engaged with the proximal end of said tube, a needle having a beveled point removably received through a wall of said tube at a point of entry intermediate said hub and adapter-hub and through the lumen of said catheter, wherein said improvement consists of a band surrounding and covering said flexible tube at said point of entry, said band being resilient for closing said point of entry after removal of the needle, said needle being effective to stretch said band upon being placed between the resilient band and the flexible tube to permit passage of the needle through the wall of said tube at the point of entry underneath the resilient band.

4. A catheter assembly comprising a plastic catheter having a tapered distal end and a hub, a flexible tube of elastic material secured at its distal end to said hub, an adapter-hub engaged with the proximal end of said tube, said tube having a point of entry for an intravenous needle intermediate said hub and adapter-hub and a resilient band surrounding the tube and elastically secured over the point of entry to prevent leakage from said point of entry upon removal of the intravenous needle from the tube wall.

5. An intravenous needle and catheter combination according to claim 2 wherein the resilient band is elastically secured to the flexible tube over the point of entry of the needle.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 851, 647 Dated December 3, 1974 Inventor(s) M. Monestere, Jr., V. L. Vaillancourt It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the specification:

Column 3, Line 35 should read:

and deform the outer tube portion 37.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of February 1975. I

(SEAL). Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH MASON, Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks RM PO-I 050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I969 0-356-38l. 

1. An intravenous needle and catheter combination comprising a plastic catheter having a tapered distal end and a hub, a flexible tube of elastic material secured at its distal end to said hub, an adapter-hub engaged with the proximal end of said tube, a needle having a beveled point removably inserted through a wall of said tube at a point of entry intermediate said hub and adapter-hub and extending through the lumen of said catheter, and separate mechanical means on said tube for closing said point of entry after removal of the needle, wherEin said mechanical means is a separate element movable between needle-passing position and entry-closing position.
 2. An intravenous needle and catheter combination according to claim 1 wherein said mechanical means is a resilient band surrounding said flexible tube.
 3. An improved intravenous needle and catheter combination comprising a plastic catheter having a tapered distal end and a hub, a flexible tube of elastic material secured at its distal end to said hub, an adapter-hub engaged with the proximal end of said tube, a needle having a beveled point removably received through a wall of said tube at a point of entry intermediate said hub and adapter-hub and through the lumen of said catheter, wherein said improvement consists of a band surrounding and covering said flexible tube at said point of entry, said band being resilient for closing said point of entry after removal of the needle, said needle being effective to stretch said band upon being placed between the resilient band and the flexible tube to permit passage of the needle through the wall of said tube at the point of entry underneath the resilient band.
 4. A catheter assembly comprising a plastic catheter having a tapered distal end and a hub, a flexible tube of elastic material secured at its distal end to said hub, an adapter-hub engaged with the proximal end of said tube, said tube having a point of entry for an intravenous needle intermediate said hub and adapter-hub and a resilient band surrounding the tube and elastically secured over the point of entry to prevent leakage from said point of entry upon removal of the intravenous needle from the tube wall.
 5. An intravenous needle and catheter combination according to claim 2 wherein the resilient band is elastically secured to the flexible tube over the point of entry of the needle. 